In a world where car design is increasingly held hostage by angry, dissonant design language, Aston Martin is an abiding reminder that the finest cars are timelessly beautiful, exquisitely crafted and intelligently engineered. The thought occurred as I approached this week’s test car, a 2026 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster sheathed in carbon-fiber body panels painted California Sage, a shade-shifting green that shimmers like the automotive track star that it is, its hue changing with the light as you stole around it.

Certainly, it’s dressed to thrill, with bulging rear fenders and a soft shoulder mid-body, much like an old 911. Its handsome, distinct face has a noticeably larger grille, which aids cooling. The rear-end diffuser may denote sportiness, but it's visually louder than the rest of the car. However, the quad exhaust tips are beautifully integrated. With the top up, the Roadster resembles the Coupe. Top down, it’s stowed beneath the sleek rear deck.

Now, the Aston Martin faithful may wonder why this speed buggy is called the Roadster, and not a Volante, Aston’s name for its droptops. Evidently that appellation is reserved for Aston’s GT cars, which the Vantage is decidedly not. It’s a sports car, one that delivers maximum thrills in a minimally sized package.

The 2026 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster is the follow-up to the Vantage Coupe that debuted last year. Thanks to some body structure and driveline tweaks, the Roadster weighs a mere 132 pounds more and is no slower than its Coupe sibling. Its twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8 produces 656 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque through a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. It’s fast, with its Michelin Pilot Sport 5.5 tires providing a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds and a 202-mph top speed. Just as fast is the eight-ply fabric roof, which drops in 6.8 seconds at speeds of up to 31 mph. The driveline is fitted with Sport, Sport+, Track, Individual and Wet driving modes, but no Eco mode — thank God. As you might expect, it uses premium fuel and returns an EPA-rated 18 mpg in combined city/highway driving.

Even though its exhaust note exhibits signals that it’s ready for a raucous time, this is a sports car for gentlemen and gentlewomen. The driveline makes a sporting sound, but it’s never overbearing, while the engine and transmission prove very responsive, remaining in gear longer than most rivals — especially in manual mode, where it indulges need to the gear and listen to it emote. And it plays the automotive athlete, unequal-length double wishbones up front; a multi-link suspension out back and Bilstein DTX adaptive dampers at each corner. Despite the slew of electronic driving aids, this remains an unrepentant front-engine/rear-wheel-drive roadster. Able to dance with an ease of control that makes it one fine party animal, the steering and brakes communicate to the driver as its taut handling voraciously gobbles up asphalt accompanied by a refined rumble.

Driver and passenger are ensconced in a snug cabin for two that’s beautifully finished, its carbon-fiber trim colored identically to the exterior color. Its center console features a 10.25-inch capacitive touchscreen with a user interface designed in house. And bravo to the designers, who have not insisted that all controls be banished to the touchscreen. They believe, and rightly so, that certain controls are better as physical buttons while driving at speed. As a result, finding the control you want is simple. It’s accompanied by a 390-watt, 11-speaker audio system or an optional 15-speaker, double amplified, 1,170-watt Bowers & Wilkins surround sound system. That said, the Aston’s cylinder symphony is the only music I listened to. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard.

Any quibbles? Well, the car’s beltline is very high, which may be a turn-off for some. And, being a sports car, its boot measures a modest 7 cubic feet. Neither should dissuade you from acquiring this lovely bit of rapid transit.

Aston Martin remains a survivor, and the 2026 Vantage Roadster is proof of the company's value. Having survived bankruptcy seven times in its 112-year history, it’s arguably never been better. Credit the money and guidance of Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, who has masterfully restored Aston Martin to the top of the automotive pantheon with cars that are among the rarest and finest in the world. The Vantage Roadster's performance, quality and scarcity define the essence of a true luxury sports car.

2026 Aston Martin Vantage Roadster

Base price: $205,900 (estimated)

Engine: Twin-turbocharged 4.0-liter V-8

Horsepower/Torque: 656/590 pound-feet

EPA rating (combined city/highway): 18 mpg

Fuel required: Premium unleaded

Length/Width/Height: 177/81/51 inches

Ground clearance: 3.7 inches

Cargo capacity: 7 cubic feet

Towing capacity: Not rated

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